Deck-plate and the like.



w. H. DURKBE. DEOK PLATE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 9; 190B.

91 7,721 Patented Apr. 6, 1909 I l l I I 1 "I'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII' WILLIAM H. DURKEE,

or NEW YORK, N. Y.

DECK-PLATE AND 'lI-IE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed. January 9, 1908. Serial No. 410,049.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, WILLIAM H. DURKEE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Deck- Plates and the Like, of which the following is a specification, the same being a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to deck plates and like articles by which access may readily be had to devices or apparatuses of different kinds located below the same, and which deck plates may be held in a locked relation so as not to be tampered with by unauthorized persons, and it has for its object the provision of a device of the kind set forth, of simple construction, and forming in operation a durable and efficient organization.

To attain the desired end, the invention consists in novel devices and combinations of devices as hereinafter explained.

In order to enable the invention to be fully understood, I shall proceed to explain the same by reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, and in which. I

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a device constructed according to my invention; Fig; 2 is a plan view of the lower face of the cover, a part of the lock casing being removed; and Fig. 3 is a view in detail of the key.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views.

Referring particularly by reference symbols or characters to the drawings, A denotes one member of my deck plate consisting of a face plate or frame formed with eyes for screws C by which it may be secured to any suitable retaining article, and having a shouldered ledge a and an open central portion.

B indicates the other member of my deck plate comprising a plate or cover constructed and arranged to rest upon the face plate A and to cover the screws C in order that the same may be entirely concealed and consequently prevented from being tampered with so long as the cover B rests upon the plate A.

I provide a locking mechanism by means of which the face plate and cover therefor may be attached together, which may be operated by any suitable manually actuated device, as, in the present instance, a key D inserted in a keyhole I) of the cover B. This locking mechanism is preferably constructed in such a manner as to have a spring action, in order that the cover may be snapped or sprung upon the plate A in any position, but cannot be detached therefrom without the operation of the manually actuated key D. In the present embodiment, the locking mechanism is attached to the cover B and consists of one or more spring bolts E, each of which has a beveled edge, by means of which it becomes automatically retracted so as to readily pass across the edge of the interior opening of the face plate when the cover B is sprung or snapped on the face plate; which spring bolt, upon passing the said edge, becomes released or shot, and moves outwardly under the said edge, and thereby locks the parts together. Each of the bolts E has a stump e constructed and arranged to be engaged by one of the wards d of the key D, and is held in its normally outward or shot position by a spring F.

The parts are so arranged, that when the key D is inserted into the keyhole b of the cover B of the locked deck plate, the wards d of the key engage with the stumps of the bolts E, and, upon turning the key, the said bolts are retracted or moved inwardly a sufficient distance to pass by the edge of the interior opening of the plate A, whereupon the cover may be detached from the said face plate.

I preferably make the cover B so that it may be fastened to any suitable retaining article, as by forming it with an eye I) by which it may be attached to the retaining article G by means of the intermediate connecting chain 9. When the parts are in a locked relation, it is only necessary to insert the key and turn it half around, upon which the cover will be released and may be lifted up with the key.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A deck plate comprising a face plate having a shouldered edge and an interior opening, and screws whereby the same may be secured to a deck, in combination with a cover therefor to rest on said shoulder and to lie flush with the face plate to overlie and entirely conceal the screw heads, and with a locking device carried by the cover, whereby the two members of the deck plate may be engaged, and also with a detachable manually actuated device to disengage the said members.

2. A deck plate comprising a lace plate having a shouldered edge and an interior opening, and screws whereby the same may be secured to a deck, in combination With a cover therefor to rest on said shouldered edge and to overlie and entirely conceal the heads of said. screws, and With a locking mechanism carried by the cover, whereby the two, members of the deck plate may be engaged, and also with a detachable manually actuated device to disengage the said members.

In testimony of the foregoing specification I do hereby sign the same in the city of New York, county and State of New York, this 3rd day of Dec. 1907.

WILLIAM H. DURKEE. Witnesses:

CHAS. D DURKEE, GEO. O. NIAYER 

